Sanchez set a new team record when he struck out 17 batters, breaking the franchise record that had been previously set by Tigers legend Mickey Lolich in 1969.

The record was set after he got Braves second baseman Dan Uggla to whiff at a knee-buckling curveball for his 17th. He was promptly greeted by a standing ovation.

As he walked off the mound, he pumped his fist and tipped his cap to the roaring crowd of 35,161. He shook hands with manager Jim Leyland at the bottom of the staircase in the dugout, signaling the end of his day.

He conceivably had a shot of tying the major league mark of 20 strikeouts when he was pulled, but he had already thrown 121 pitches -- five shy of his career high (126).

Atlanta entered Friday with baseball's best record, leading the majors with 35 home runs. But they were helpless against Sanchez, who pounded the strike zone and used a five-pitch variety to bewilder a Braves offense that was held to just five bases hit.

KEY TO THE GAME

By the time the fifth inning had rolled around, the Tigers had plated 10 runs on 12 hits and three walks to chase Braves left-hander Paul Maholm from the game.

Maholm, who had given up only three runs in his first four starts, was 3-1 lifetime against the Tigers with a 1.03 ERA before giving up eight earned runs prior to his early exit.

His replacement, Anthony Varvaro, didn't fare much better, walking his first batter, Jhonny Peralta, before giving up a three-run homer to Matt Tuiasosopo, which capped a six-run onslaught in the fourth inning.

The five RBIs were a career high for Tuiasosopo, who entered Friday with a total of 16.

TIGERS HIGHLIGHTS

-- Aside from the fourth inning, Sanchez struck out two batters in every inning. He had faced the Braves 17 times as a pitcher for the Marlins and had never struck out more than seven.

-- Sanchez hasn't allow more than two runs in any of his five starts. It was the fifth career game with 10-plus strikeouts for Sanchez. His first since Sept. 25, 2012. His previous career high was 14.

-- He struck out Uggla four times and Freddie Freeman and Juan Francisco three times apiece. Of his 17 strikeouts, 14 struck out swinging.